White Sox leap out of last

Third baseman Joe Crede's visit Monday night ignited a sampling of the glory days for the White Sox.

Although Crede remains at least six weeks away from swinging a bat following his rehabilitation from back surgery, the Sox's 11-3 rout of the Royals was reminiscent of their 2006 production with Crede in the lineup.

The win pulled the Sox (65-85) out of last place in the American League Central for the first time in 24 days. The Sox's 11 runs and 10 hits in the fifth inning, highlighted by Jermaine Dye's three-run homer, were their highest totals in an inning this season.

The only blemish to the Sox's outburst was that they surpassed last year's franchise record for most strikeouts in a season (1,056) with 12 games left.

But it wasn't lost on Crede that rookie slugger Josh Fields, who cranked a 444-foot home run during the Sox's 11-run fifth, moved from third to left field 3 1/2 weeks ago.

"I noticed that," said Crede, who made the 2½-hour drive from Westphalia, Mo., to Kauffman Stadium to embark on the second phase of rehabilitation after surgery was performed in June. "I've been watching and keeping up with the team. I think everything is going to play itself out. We're not going to worry about that until the time comes. But if I'm here, that's great.

"But this is baseball. It is a business and you just do what they tell you and hope you have a uniform and play every day next year."

Manager Ozzie Guillen, however, was hesitant to declare a scenario in which Fields and Crede would be in the 2008 lineup at the same time.

"First of all, we have to worry about how Crede is going to come back," Guillen said. "I think Fields is still in the mix, that's one of the reasons we put him out there, but it's no guarantee that he's going to be our left fielder. There's no guarantee he's going to be here next year. It depends what's out there to help us. If we think Fields is the one to make this ballclub better next year, then we'll make the decision."

The Sox hold Crede's negotiating rights for one more year as an arbitration-eligible player. Playing without a multiyear deal hasn't bothered him.

"Our ears are always open," said Crede, who is represented by mega-agent Scott Boras. "We haven't heard anything. I'm happy with whatever happens. Obviously, it would be nice to have a long-term deal and have some security. At the same time, I'm not going to force the issue."

Crede, who will receive $4.94 million this season, hasn't received any inkling from team officials regarding his status.

"As long as I'm playing somewhere next year, I'll be happy," said Crede, fully aware that teammates Mark Buehrle and Dye and manager Guillen have received extensions in the midst of one of the Sox's worst seasons.

"And I hope it's here. I love to play here. There's a good group of guys and I have a good feeling about next year. I know (general manager) Kenny Williams wants to turn this thing around."

Since the surgery, Crede has noticed he can stand, drive and fly on a plane for an extended period without throbbing and aching pain.

Crede started rotational exercises and believes he can resume swinging a bat perhaps by the end of October after a visit to Phoenix with physical therapist Brett Fischer.

"I've had that itch (to accelerate the rehab) ever since I had the surgery," Crede said.